UDC’s Master Naturalist program is back, and you have until Nov. 30 to apply

If you’ve been reading Forest Hills Connection for a while, you will not be surprised that we are excited about the return of the UDC Master Naturalist program.

As Marlene Berlin wrote ahead of UDC’s first Master Naturalist training in 2018, “One of the great joys in five years of publishing Forest Hills Connection has been finding, in our email, one of Marjorie Rachlin’s Backyard Nature pieces, or a neighbor’s photo of a chance wildlife encounter. The site has also been a vehicle for sightings and observations from my many walks of the neighborhood. (Ed. note: You might recall Marlene’s fungus obsession.)”

The classes, held over six weeks, cover topics such as basic urban ecology, native plants and pollinators, and the human impacts on urban nature. Classes begin February 18th. Tuition is $250. The application deadline is November 18th. And there’s lots more information below.

The College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability, and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES), of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), is offering the District of Columbia Master Naturalist (DCMN) Program. The program’s mission is to train, develop, and support volunteers who will become environmental stewards and champions in the District.

Advertisement

Interested participants must complete the DCMN Application and email the completed form to laura.schatzman@udc.edu by November 30, 2019. Interviews will be conducted with each applicant either in person or by phone. Applicants will receive a notice of their acceptance status by December 13, 2019.

DCMN PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The DCMN program consists of two components:

Six weeks of intensive volunteer training that offers a comprehensive overview of the environmental ecosystems and urban factors that influence these systems;

Followed by the trainee’s commitment to complete a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer service, 10 of which will be completed at the recently established UDC Native Plant Nursery.

The coursework includes eight Tuesday and Thursday evening classes, and two Saturday field trips. Local experts will teach the classes. Training topics include:

Basic Urban Ecology

Botany, Native Plants, and Urban Pollinators

Citizen Science and Community Organizing

Forest Ecology of the District of Columbia

Ornithology, Ichthyology and Aquatic Life

Climate Change and Ecological Resilience

Human Impacts on Urban Ecological Systems

A certificate of completion will be issued upon the successful completion of all training sessions. After DCMN Program participants have completed the classroom training and 40 hours of volunteer service, they will be District of Columbia Master Naturalists, and will receive official DCMN Program certificates.

University of the District of Columbia (Van Ness Campus)
4200 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20008

Participants will be contacted via e-mail regarding the building and room number before the first class session.

The University of the District of Columbia is located at the Van Ness/UDC Metro stop on the Red Line. There is a parking garage on campus for those who prefer to drive ($8 for 1-3 hours; $12 for 4-6 hours; $20 for 7 hours or longer). Limited street parking is available.

PAYMENT
The cost of the DC Master Naturalist Program is $250. Payment is required upon acceptance into the program. Payment can be made before or at the time of the first class, by check or money order, made payable to the “University of the District of Columbia.”